AP coverage of US President Bush's arrival in Pakistan

(3 Mar 2006)
1. Air Force One taxiing on runway
2. Close-up of US flag on tail of plane
3. US President George W. Bush and his wife, Laura, disembarking
4. Posters of Bush, Pakistani President General Pervez Musharraf (left) and Pakistani Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz (right)
5. Bush waving as he is greeted by Pakistani officials
6. Bush walking towards waiting car
7. Wide of airbase
STORYLINE:
US President George W Bush arrived in Pakistan on Friday amid tight security.
His aircraft, Air Force One, landed after dark at a Rawalpindi airbase, with its lights off and window shades drawn.
A banner strung across an airport building welcomed "President George W. Bush, a friend of Pakistan," and above it were pictures of Bush, Pakistani President General Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz.
It was not clear if Bush and his wife, Laura, were taken to Islamabad by limousine or helicopter.
But a long motorcade rushed along the deserted highway to the US embassy in the heavily fortified diplomatic compound where the couple were spending the night.
The security precautions underscore the tension in Pakistan, where a US diplomat was killed in a bomb attack a day earlier.
Shortly before taking off for Pakistan, Bush said he would be meeting with Musharraf during his trip to discuss Pakistan's cooperation in the "war on terror".
Bush has promised to raise with Musharraf on Saturday the need to do more to hunt down al-Qaida members in the country.
He is also expected to talk about the need for additional democratic reforms.
Another goal of the Pakistan stop is to boost the US image among Muslims by showcasing American contributions after a devastating earthquake in northern Pakistan in October.
In Rawalpindi, near the airbase where Bush's plane landed, about 1,000 demonstrators had earlier trampled on the American flag and chanted "Killer go back" and "Death to America."
Police dispersed them with swinging batons.

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